Annual 12-point safety check every home needs

Whether or not you have children, you've probably baby-proofed a space (goodbye potted cactus!) to welcome visiting relatives. Or, maybe you've installed hand rails before hosting elderly guests. But like many conscientious homeowners, you could be overlooking potential home hazards that could endanger your health or safety.

Reduce risk with this annual 12-point safety check:

Fire

1.     Fire extinguisher. Make sure the dial near the nozzle registers "green" or "full" so you know it's ready in an emergency. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, the garage and on every level of the house. (In case you need a refresher, here's how to use it.)

2.     Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Whether your detectors are hard-wired as part of a security system or battery-powered, test their alarms and vacuum the grilles. Change the batteries twice a year (when you adjust your clock between Standard and Daylight time) and replace alarms every 10 years.

3.     Chimneys. If you burn more than half a cord of wood per year, get your chimney professionally cleaned to prevent buildup of creosote, a tarry flammable residue that can coat the inside of your chimney and spark a chimney fire.

4.     Furnace and A/C tune-up. Besides regular filter changes, your equipment needs professional preventive maintenance. See your owner's manual for frequency. Many HVAC companies offer prepaid plans, which can save you money over time.

5.     Dryer. Your dryer's lint screen can miss up to 25% of the lint generated during normal operation. It ends up coating the vent hose, potentially clogging it and causing dangerous heat buildup. Depending on how much laundry you do, get it professionally cleaned every year.

6.     Electrical. Heat coming from switches or sockets can be a sign of a serious wiring problem. So can sparking, a humming noise or strange smell around an outlet. Also consult an electrician if you notice lights flickering or dimming or circuit breakers tripping frequently, since all can indicate overloaded circuits. While there's no set schedule for how often your home's electrical system should be inspected by a professional, it's important to reach out as soon as you suspect there might be a problem.

Mold and contaminants

7.     Crawlspace. During rainy weather, check that you don't have standing water or evidence of insects or rodents (damaged insulation, unpleasant musky smell) in your crawlspace. Approximately one in five suburban homes may harbor rodents. The homeowners usually have no idea until a visiting contractor notices the problem while working under the home. Rodent damage can cost thousands of dollars to fix, isn't covered by homeowners insurance and requires protective measures during cleanup, since some rodents (deer mice in the Northwest) can carry hantavirus, a serious infection spread through aerosolized exposure to droppings, which is heightened by sweeping and vacuuming.

8.     Attic. Survey your attic for leaks or signs of rodents, insects or birds. Soffit vents (the grids you see under your eaves) can allow critters to get in if they're damaged. Also, make sure the vents aren't blocked, particularly by insulation, or that your bathroom fan isn't venting directly into the attic. Improper ventilation can lead to mold, rot and even sagging roofs.

9.     Gutters. Make sure gutters aren't clogged with needles and leaves. Plugged gutters are worse than none at all because they can lead to damaged siding or ice dams during the winter, when meltwater with nowhere to go backs up under shingles and leaks into walls.

10. Sump pump. If you home has a basement, you may have a sump pump to keep it from flooding. Check that the sump pit is free of debris so water can flow freely, and make sure the pump is powered up and working properly.

Injuries

11. Trip hazards. Common culprits are concrete walkways that have been pushed up by tree roots and bottom stairs that aren't marked with paint. Hardwood stairs that transition to matching hardwood floors are notorious for falls. That's because they blend together so well that people can miss the last step.

12. Trees. Look for signs of disease or insect damage that could make trees vulnerable to falling – and potentially crashing into homes or cars – during a windstorm. While tree falls are usually considered "acts of nature," homeowners may be held responsible for damage if they knew or should have known there was a problem with their tree.  

And one bonus tip: While you're doing all that checking, verify your home is earthquake-ready with measures like bolting it to the foundation and strapping your water heater to the wall.